Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-05-18
HOW | BECAME GRAY.
Tied to a Railroad Track, Waiting
for Death.


Several years ago, while passing over
the Pennsylvania railroad, was much
impressed by the appearance of one Of
my fellow-passengers, who occupied a
seat in the same coach with me. IL
was not that his features were in any
way striking, but the popularity about
him was in his thick. full head of snowy
white hair. standing out in abundant
kinky curls on head the owner of
which was yet young man, not more
than thirty years of age. His features
were not remarkable in any way, with
the exception, perhaps, of rather sad
look, which seemed to indicate that he
might have had at some time during
his life a severe mental or physical
shock, the effect of which had made an
impression on him that would last as
long as life.
Somehow, the thought kept recur-
ring TO me: What made his hair
whitc?" Somehow, l could not Danish
him from my thoughts. The scenery
through which we were passing at a
high rate of speed was grand, yet /
could not enjoy il, and my eyes would
turn from the green hills and deep
gorges, to gaze again at this sad-cyed
stranger with snowy hair.
do not think / am impertinent or
inq"isitivc to an unusual degree, but |
confess that on this occasion laid my
self open to the charge of being both;
for left my own seat and took the va
cant one in front of him. the back of
which turned over SO that | was inn
mcdiatcly face to face with the object
of my curiosity.
tended to be introductory. He replied
politely. An informal conversation
followed Then venturcd TO refer to
his white hair. Instead of showing
surprise, nc evidently expected the al
fusion, and had understood why !
sought his company. He replied:
"Your curiosity, sir, is natural, and you
must not suppose that YOU are the first
person who has made similar inquiry,
for ! am questioned almost daily as to
the cause of my hair being.whitc, al
though am barely twcnty-cight years
of age. 1t turned from jet black to
its present snowy whitcncss in one
night.
Three years ago." he continued, IL
was in tho employ of Il large wholesale
house in New York as travelling sales
man, aud found myself in Western
State at about this time of year, on one
of my business tours for the house. l
was obliged to visit small town in the
extreme western part of the State, to
attend to some collections.
81 was successful in collecting the
amount owing the firm, which, to-
gether with the sum | already had,
amounted to nearly three thousand dol
lars.
"Thc village had been greatly cx-
cited for several weeks over the dcprc-
dations of horsc-thicvcs in the neigh
borhood; and only the night before my
arrival, three fine horses had been
taken from the stables of residents of
the village, and of course many of the
people were in u high state of excite
mcnt. Parties were out in every dircc-
ton searching for the thieves and
horses, and all strangers were looked
upon with more or less suspicion.
"Whcn | was ready for my return
trip, one of our old customers, of whom
had just collected large bill, and
who had again favored our house with
an order for goods, informed me that
few miles away on the line of the rail-
road new place was just starting. 1t
already had two stores; and he strong
ly advised me stop of there, rs might
by so doing secure an order for goods.
j Thought it well to do so.
AS | stepped aboard the train, it
was just nine O'Clock in the evening.
] saw the conductor and informed him
of my wish to stop at W, the name
of tho new settlement He took my
fare, ut the same time saying: BE on
the platform right after you hear the
whistle: Wen slow down so that YOU
eau jump of. II is such "a new place
that they have no post-oilice there yet,
and consequently we have no mailbag
to leave or take on. When any one
wishes to get aboard from there, the
station master flags the train
when heard the warning whistle,
therefore, ] made my way to the plat
form, and rs the train came almost To
stand-still, jumped or As ! did so,
the conductor called out The depot is
about forty rods further down the track.
Keep right ahead, around the bend
y ndcr, and you'll como to the settle
mcnt in II minute. We slowed down n
little too quick; fact is, we haven't
stopped here often enough to know
where to put on the brakes in order to
hit the depot right. Would take you
down thee, but we have to meet the
down-cxprcss at M, fifty miles
further up. She's due here in just three
hours, so you see we've got to hurry
up
Ellis last words ended in shout, AS
the train disappeared in the darkness
around the bend.
III had two heavy samplc-bags, both
Of which | had dropped of the train
before springing down myself. and MS
the cars disappeared in the distance, I
stopped to pick them up. But as | did
so, some one from behind sprang
heavily upon me, and, taken ut dis
advantage. / went down in heap, with
the stranger on top of me.
Bring the cords, jed heard my
unknown assailnnt say. and in a very